Arsenal expect to find out today if Mikel Arteta will play again this season, after the influential midfielder limped out of Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Wigan with a suspected broken ankle.

In pain: Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta (Picture: REUTERS)

Arteta was forced off after just eight minutes of action at the Emirates, having attempted to play on following a clash with Franco Di Santo.The 30-year-old was still being helped down the tunnel by the time Di Santo and Jordi Gomez had pounced to put Wigan 2-0 up, but he appeared in the players lounge after the game, sporting crutches and a protective boot.

Manager Arsene Wenger later told gathered media the injury is a serious one.’It is an ankle problem. It looks quite a serious one. It is too early to say tonight. But it doesn’t look a little ankle sprain. It is a serious one,’ revealed Wenger.Arteta will have a scan this morning to determine the full extent of the problem, but Arsenal are already fearing the worst, with a broken ankle likely to rule the Spaniard out for at least three months – ending his season early.It would mean Arsenal would have continue the fight for third place without one of their most in-form and experienced players, in full knowledge that they have not won a game without Arteta since his £10 million move from Everton in late August.

Euro KO: Wilshere has been ruled out for the rest of the season (Picture: Getty Images)

The news comes just hours after the Gunners finally ruled Jack Wilshere out for the rest of the season, with a series of setbacks meaning he will not play for England at Euro 2012 or represent Team GB at the Olympics.There is some good news on the injury front for Arsenal though, with Francis Coquelin due back in training this week, while Per Mertesacker will fly back from Germany in the next fortnight, having travelled to his homeland for surgery and rehabilitation on his left ankle.Merteseacker has told the Arsenal medical staff he feels strong enough to feature in one of the club’s remaining Premier League games, but manager Wenger considers it a risk, ahead of his likely participation in the Euro’s.A decision is also expected this week on Abou Diaby, who has been building his fitness up in training, and is in contention to be in the squad for Saturday’s clash with Chelsea.